A funeral plan for Lil-Bouvalu Lyden, who was killed in a car crash in South Auckland on Sunday morning, December 1, has been announced – along with tributes from his grieving family.
Lyden, 16, died after a single-vehicle crash on Hyperion Drive, Randwick Park, at about 7am.
The New Zealand Herald reported that the crash happened while Lyden and a friend were on their way to a Rippa rugby tournament.
Details of the funeral were published in a family social media notice on Friday.
The family said: “it is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved son & brother, Lil-Bouvalu Kenneth Lyden”.
A family service will be held tomorrow, Monday, 9 December, at 6 pm at Mangere East’s St Therese Parish, followed by his funeral service on Tuesday at 10.30am.
“After the funeral service, our baby will be escorted one last time to his old stomping grounds, The Otahuhu Rugby League fields then to his junior club, The Mangere East Hawks grounds and then to the school he was so hearty about, De La Salle College before we head to his final resting place”.
His burial service will be held at Manukau Memorial Garden.
The report by the New Zealand Herald “described Lyden as a selfless and inspiring leader who aimed to represent his Samoan and Tongan heritage in rugby league”.
“Lyden played in age-grade representative teams for both countries, starting with Tonga before switching to Samoa and co-captaining their under-16 side for their Queensland tour in October”.
A post on the Otahuhu Rovers Rugby League Football Club Facebook page said: “Lil-Bou was a popular player in our U16 Leopards team this season and will be greatly missed. He was often seen doing extras down at the Club field on weekends which helped with his electric playing style.”
The Tamaki Outrigger Canoe Club posted saying Lyden had been a member from 2019 to 2021, and said he was “a very humble, kind-hearted and loving person whose infectious smile bought rays of sunshine on and off the wai on the Tāmaki River.”
